Hooray, the time is almost here: the baby is coming! This is not only a reason for joy, but also an occasion for a wonderful party. Originally, the baby shower—the party before the birth—comes from America, but it is becoming increasingly popular here in Europe as well. Besides all the excitement about the little explorer, such a celebration is also an opportunity for the expectant mother to see all her friends once more before the time of sleepless nights begins. ;) Classic baby parties unfortunately often produce a lot of waste—but it doesn't have to be that way. Here you will find sustainable alternatives for a party with a clear conscience!

Sustainable party decorations

The right decorations create a very special atmosphere at every baby shower. However, they often generate quite a bit of waste. Fortunately, there are alternatives made from recyclable materials for most party supplies. These are not only beautiful and practical, but also more environmentally friendly than conventional options.

• Instead of plastic plates or cutlery, you can use Wooden plate and cutlery – which protect the environment and also look more high-quality and aesthetic. When purchasing, pay attention to environmental labels for sustainable forest management, such as FSC certification.

• How about Natural materials for decoration ? Branches, leaves, and more give your baby shower a special, natural atmosphere.

• Use Wiederverwendbare Teile zur Dekoration A washable linen tablecloth is not only more stylish than one made of plastic, but it is also ready to use again at the next party. Cloth napkins instead of paper napkins are also reusable and add a special touch to this occasion.

• Go ahead and grab some Dried flowers instead of fresh ones. These will definitely keep everyone's spirits high long after the party. Extra tip: A small bouquet of dried flowers as a gift at the end of the day will ensure that the baby shower remains memorable not only for the expectant mother, but also for all guests for a long time.

You don't have to buy lots of new things: homemade decorations make your baby shower unique and make it easier for you to keep an eye on which materials and products you use. Surely, some of your guests also have fabric garlands, cake toppers, or other party accessories at home and will be happy to lend them.

Delicious and sustainable: ideas for the buffet

A successful baby shower should, of course, include good food, and special drinks and treats shouldn't be missing either. We have collected a few ideas on how to make the party buffet more sustainable:

• Use large jugs or glass carafes instead of many small plastic bottles, and fill them with water, juice, and the like. With appropriate labeling and garnished with fruit or mint sprigs, the drinks look especially appealing.

• You don't have to throw away leftovers : Let guests know in advance—ideally before the party—that leftovers (if there are any at all ;)) can be happily taken home. You might even mention in the invitations that guests can bring containers or storage jars for this purpose. After all, everyone would be happy to have a piece of cake the next day, wouldn't they?

• Whether you shop and cook yourself or use a catering or delivery service: dishes made from regional and seasonal ingredients are always a good choice when it comes to sustainability.

The best games for the baby shower

A classic at every baby shower is a set of fun games that put the expectant mother and baby in the spotlight while involving the guests, too. The same applies here: there are plenty of entertaining game ideas that require only minimal supplies and produce little to no waste.

• Guess waist circumference: Jeder Gast schneidet so viel Band von einer Rolle ab, wie er glaubt, dass es einmal um den Bauch der schwangeren Frau passt. Sobald alle ihre Schätzung abgegeben haben, wird sie überprüft – der Gewinner ist derjenige, der am nächsten liegt.

• Match baby photos: This classic really shouldn't be missing at any baby shower. Ask each guest to bring a baby photo of themselves to the party. Figuring out which photo belongs to which guest will surely lead not only to surprises, but also to a laugh or two.

• Don't say anything now, baby: In this game, there is only one (seemingly) simple rule: the word “Baby” is taboo for the duration of the party. Each guest receives three clothespins as “jokers” at the start, clipped onto their clothing – every time someone says the word “Baby”, they must give one of them up. Not so easy at a baby shower—the game will challenge guests to get creative with their word choice or to engage in conversations outside the baby bubble.

• Baby Oracle: This game is all about the new family member: Which Eye color will it probably have? When will it come into the world, and how big and heavy will it be? Each guest makes a prediction, which is collected in a list. The winner can, of course, only be determined after the birth—primarily, however, the predictions make lovely Memories for the new parents and can, for example, later find a place in the baby album. To get started right away, we have prepared a printable template.

Give sustainably

One thing is at the forefront of almost all baby showers: the gifts. After all, everyone wants to bring joy to the expectant parents and contribute something to the new family member's essentials. Of course, a sustainable party also includes sustainable and practical gifts.

• Homemade Gifts are not only especially thoughtful and personal, but they also allow you to pay close attention to the materials you use. For example, a handmade baby blanket made of cotton is not only gentle on the environment, but also on the sensitive skin of the newborn. When making something yourself, make sure your gift is safely crafted and does not pose any unintended dangers to the baby.

• When purchasing Baby clothing , towels, toys, etc., it is worth investing in high-quality pieces and paying attention to nachhaltige natürliche Materialien . In addition to the sustainability aspect, these items are usually more durable, so the recipients can enjoy them for a long time.

• One thing young parents can always use: Diapers! With our paper-wrapped LILLYDOO green diapers , you can help soon-to-be parents make their changing table a little greener from the start. During the production of the diaper line, we collaborate with Plastic Bank to collect the complete amount of plastic from the environment contained in our products. Especially nice as a gift for the upcoming birth: a Selbstgemachter Windel-Torte . Inspiration for various diaper cakes, like the natural version in the image above, can also be found at personello .

• A 100% sustainable gift is gifted time . Be it babysitting (for older siblings), homemade meal deliveries during the Weekly bed , or a personal shopping service—anything that makes everyday life easier for the small family is perfect!

• The same applies to gift wrapping: the less waste, the better. Instead of wrapping paper, use a nice, reusable . Piece of fabric or even a muslin cloth that is ready to use again after a wash.

More inspiration for great gift ideas can also be found in our article.

With these tips, your sustainable baby shower is sure to be a great success. Celebrate the expectant mother properly before she embarks on this new, exciting chapter of her life. We at LILLYDOO wish you lots of fun!